Violin and the like.



PATENTED THE. 4, 1908.

J. W. DARMON. VIOLIN AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1907.

"WITNESSES [/VVE/VTOR A froze/v5 V3 section through the body engaging portion .IOHN W. DARMON, OF CLINTON, KENTUCKY.

VIOLIN AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1908.

Application filed February 23. 1907. Serial No. 358.864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1', JOHN W. DARMON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Hickman and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Violin and the Like, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention relates to violins and similar stringed instruments utilizing a bridge for supporting the strings above the body.

The object of the invention is 'to provide means whereby the belly of the instrument may be relieved of part of the pressure ex erted by the bridge. Another object is to provide means of this character whereby pressure may be directly transmitted from the bridge to the bottom of the instrument.

W/ith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a violin embodying the present improvements, a portion of the body being broken away to show the bridge adjusting device in elevation; Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the violin; Fig. 3 is an enlarged of the adjusting attachment; and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and showing the stem in position within the sleeve.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, A is the body of the instrument having a tail piece B fastened to one end thereof in the usual manner, and a neck C at the opposite end thereof. The top or belly 1 of the body has a reinforcing rib upon the inner surface thereof at one side as shown at 2 and a small socket 3 is formed within the top directly above this rib and is designed to receive a centering pin 1 extending from one leg 5 of a bridge 6. This bridge of course supports the strings in the usual manner. The other leg of the bridge has a socket 7 in the bottom thereof designed to receive the pointed end of a spindle 8. Said end extends through and out of contact with the edges of an opening 9 in the top 1 and the lower portion of the spindle is threaded as shown at 10 and is provided with a head 11 preferably milled, as shown. The screw threaded portion of the stem engages threads 12 formed within a sleeve 13 which extends through the bottom 14 of the body and has an elongated head 15 at one end. This head is designed to bear upon a washer 16 of felt or other suitable material and which is interposed be tween the head and the bottom 14. The sleeve 13 is screw threaded upon its outer surface to engage a clamping nut 17 which is disposed outside of the body and adapted to bear upon a washer 18 of felt or other suitable material. These two washers 16 and 18 prevent the head 15 and nut 17 from affecting the tone produced by the instrument.

By providing the device herein described it will be understood that by turning the spindle 8 in one direction the socketed leg of the bridge 6 can be raised slightly from the top 1 so as to relieve said top of a considerable portion of the pressure exerted thereagainst by the bridge. The top 1 will therefore be free to vibrate without hindrance and when a bow is drawn across the strings the tones produced will be enriched and increased because the vibration of the belly is not interfered with as when the bridge rests entirely thereon. It is of course understood that if it is desired to return the bridge to its usual position upon the top 1 it is merely necessary to reverse the movement of the stem 8 so that the end thereof will move away from the bridge. It is also to be understood that-a very slight movement of the bridge is sufficient to relieve the top 1 of pressure and while such movement will slightly raise the pitch the change will be barely if at all perceptible. As a result of this feature the tone produced during the playing of a composition can be changed from an ordinary quality to a full and brilliant quality simply by turning the stem against the bridge so as to relieve the top 1. This adjustment can be effected quickly without the necessity of changing the position of the instrument while being played, but it is of course understood that ordinarily the illstrument will be tuned subsequent to the adjustment of the bridge and the same quality will be maintained throughout the playing of a composition.

hat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a stringed instrument having a belly and a bridge upon the belly of the instrument; of an interiorly threaded sleeve extending through the bottom of the instrument, means upon the sleeve for clamping the bottom to hold the sleeve against displacement, and bridgeengaging and supporting means adjustably engaging the sleeve and extending throu h and out of contact With the belly of the instrument.

2. The combination With a stringed instrument having an opening in the -belly thereof and a bridge upon the belly located at one end over the opening; of a sleeve extending through the bottom of the instrument and having a threaded bore, clamping members upon the sleeve, Washers interposed between said members and the opposite faces of the bottom, a spindle inserted through the sleeve and the opening and engaging the bridge, said spindle having an enlarged screw-threaded portion disposed to engage the sleeve, and a head upon one end of the stem, said spindle beingdisposed When rotated in one direction to lift a portion of the bridge out of contact With the belly of the instrument.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN .W. DARMON.

Witnesses W. H. VAN HOOK, J. P. DEBoE. 

